The Indian cricket team on Friday visited Pietermaritzburg railway station, where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a 'whites-only' compartment in 1893.

The Indians, who were in Pietermaritzburg for their World Cup Group A league game against Namibia on Sunday, took a ten-minute ride from nearby Pentrich railway station to Pietermaritzburg in the Gandhi Memorial Train, a replica of the carriage that the Mahatma, as a young lawyer, boarded that night.

"We used to read about it [Pietermaritzburg] in books. Now we are here face to face with this historic moment. Obviously we are thrilled," captain Sourav Ganguly said.

A plaque was unveiled at the station by Kamal Kumar, India's consul general in South Africa, in the presence of Ila Gandhi, granddaughter of the Mahatma, and Hloni Zondi, Mayor of Pietermaritzburg, among others. Hundreds of local and international journalists were also present to capture the event for posterity.

"It's a journey back in time. We are excited," vice-captain Rahul Dravid said.

Kumble, who was overwhelmed by the 'historic moment', was busy shooting pictures.

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar was forced to miss the occasion, having fixed an appointment with a doctor at the very same hour for a bruise on his left hand.

"The doctor was available only at that time and so Sachin had to miss out," media manager Amrit Mathur said.

"The injury is not serious at all and he will be back at the nets tomorrow," he said.

Ila Gandhi, till recently a member of Parliament from Phoenix constituency in Durban, said the ashram of the Mahatma was in a neglected state because of lack of funds.

"People visit the ashram but they don't donate much and there are no funds," said the daughter of Mahatma's eldest son Manilal.

The cricketers later posed for pictures in front of Gandhi's statue in Church Street in the town before proceeding to the Proteas Sports Club for a coaching stint for underprivileged children.

"Making yourself available for the clinic at least twice in this World Cup is a part of the obligation for the Indian team to the International Cricket Council," said Mathur, who was excited to see no less than 400 kids turn up to take lessons from the international stars.